The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1887-02-02

oiouiu . oo OApOhuOus
WEDNESDAY JAN. 26-The following
notices of bills were given
By Brown--A bill to amend section 5
of the revised statutes.
By Blake-A bill concerning trustees
Of religious corporations.
A bill concerning a Territorial peniten-
tiary.
A bill concerning a board of i~nstruc-
ton.
By Thompson-A bill for an act con.
corning licenses.
H. B. No. 8, was first taken up, and
provoked much argument at once.
DISCUSSION ON THE GAG LAW.
Marshall moved that the majority and
minority reports be made a special order
for February Goth. He withdrew his
motion, and Mantle moved that when
the committee rise they recommend
that the majority report be adopted.
This motion brought Blake to his feet.
He accused every n of being afraid to
60 on record concerning this famous gag
law" and characterized it as a menace to
all workmen. He said it was the work
ofthe millionaire and was drawn up by
a lawyer for pay. He was earnestly in
favor of its repeal, saysthe Independent.
sPEAKER ARMSTRONG
spoke in substance as follows: In dis
cussing the motion now before the COM
mittee in naturally involves the original
bill, and both may or will be considered
at the same time, and while l am in
favor of the motion to adopt the majority
report, l am still open to conviction, and
if any member can advance logic Or
reason ofthe repeal of the section EN-.
braced in the original bill | am ready to
support it. But the simple fact of putting
myself of record contains no terror for
me and | am now and all times ready to
place myself on record and to take the
consequences.
1t has been suggested that the law as
now in force is a menace to working
men, Either the member from Madison
has assumed a fact not Justified bv the
section involved, or I am too obtuse TO
discover it from the language of the
statute.
1t seems to me if there is any section
ofthe statute that is calculated to protect
the laboring man it is section 1893 referred
to in the bill.
1t not only guarantees to the laporinp
men protection from the threats and
force of all persons who may attempt to
Interfere with his rights, but with it in
connection with other statutes he is able
to have his rights enforced through the
peace officers of the respective counties
In the territory without money and with
out price.
The rich nan can employ counsel and
defend his rights and can ~seuuent
take care of himself but section l9s guar.
antees to the laboring man protection at
the expense of the public. 1t has been
urged by some that the law is either good
or bad and that it should either be re
pealed or allowed to stand in its present
condition. This is no argument to me
Formerly men were put to death 70,
larceny. but justice and civilization have
taught us the punishment was too severe
for that %offense. and a more human law
suggested a modification but not a repeal
SO with this law; we think the punish.
ment is not commensurate with the
offense, and it should be modified and
h punishment changed from a felony
toa m~lsdeneanor. In my opinion the
labartng men are not demanding the
repeal of this law. 1t works no Injustice
to them. 1t is contended that innocent
menare son c times arrested and harassed
under the ju tee ofthis act. So bund.
reds OF innocent men Lave been in.
carcerated in prison-others hung O,
burned at the stake, and vet no one
would urge that as an argument for the
repeal of criminal code. No system Of
law is perfect-no one expects it, and we
are only called upor to legislate as GU,
Judgment deems hes for the good of the
l whole people. Notwithstanding some in.